Name: Sam Bittner

Occupation: Director of American Windsurfing Tour

Country of residence: USA

You’ve just come across to Europe for Defi Wind, how was it and what made you decide to enter?  

The Defi Wind was an experience of a lifetime! I heard about and ready about the event in mags over the past years and was always intrigued to see so many people on the water at one time.  Now that I organise events myself, I wanted to see what it took to get that many windsurfers organised for one event all together! When I booked my flight to go, I wasnt really sure I would race myself, I just wanted to be there and experience it.  Lucky for me, fellow Naish teammate, Sarah Herbert offered me a kit and I was able to participate as well!

What was the atmosphere like? Was it scary/exciting/amazing windsurfing with so many others?

You would have to use all those words to describe the Defi Wind. It was scary, exciting and amazing to be a part of 800 windsurfers in the same race.  I was incredibly challenged to finish the race in 40 knots of wind.  Normally I wouldn’t even go out in that much wind, but instead I went 40 km in 40 knots with 805 windsurfers.  People were crashing and some were giving up and being rescued by the safety boats.  I am happy to report that I finished every race that I started!  Happy to have been apart of the event and looking forward to going back for sure!!

Where are you heading next?

I just got into Ireland last night and will cruise the west coast with the spectacular Katie McAnena this week before heading to Wales and back to Ireland for the BWA events.

Why are you competing in the BWA tour this year?

I have a lot of friends to do the BWA events.  I was inspired from their stories of how the events are run with “family style”.  When I organised the AWT I wanted it to have the same feeling for everyone to be welcome.  Now, I actually get to attend and see for myself what everyone is talking about.

What are you expecting from the events? And what are you looking forward too?

I am looking forward to sailing in new places and meeting the organisers. I am also looking forward to helping out at an event that I am not in charge of! Loads of people help me a lot on the AWT and now I want to give back some helping hands to another tour.

You have a packed AWT tour this year…what events are you most looking forward to and why?

Shoot. That is really like asking me what child I like best! They are all my favorite or I wouldn’t organise them.  But they are all special for their own reasons.  First up is Santa Cruz and I am happy to announce that I have pulled together $6500 for prize money! Everyone is welcome! Email me if you would like tips on traveling to any of the AWT events!

What sailors will be the ones to watch out for?

Sam Bittner!  Haha, just joking.  That is another hard question because I love all the riders and they are all working so hard and improving like crazy along the way.  Fiona Wylde just spent 2 months on Maui training for AWT so for sure the girls are going to have to watch out for her! On the men’s side, Levi Siver won 3 events in a row last year but Bernd Roediger is the up and coming youth on the pro side, so keep your eye on him too!

Marcilio Browne, Sam’s tip for the top in 2013!

Do you know who from the AWT is also heading to the PWA? Who do you think could and should cause a stir on the tour?

I was just with Antoine Martin at the Defi who is doing the PWA this year. He has been training hard in Maui this winter and is an incredible sailor.  Not sure what Marcilio Browne’s plans are this year but he is an incredible athlete and has potential to take home the gold on the AWT and PWA in my opinion

Head on over to our sister site Boards.co.uk for heat by heat coverage of the BWA events, starting this Friday the 18th May. Here on Boardseeker we will have a brand new podcast or two from the events courtesy of Alfie Hart too.

Lots to get through, so enjoy what’s to come. Firstly, Al Bentley reports from the NZ Freestyle Nationals where he managed to secure the title. A full report from the successful event can be viewed here.

On UK shores the SWA have released a video from their latest event – Liverpool Northern Monkeys.

Here’s a very festive one for you, turns out Santa has been scoring some back loops since his busy night.

Last but by no means least Dany Bruch has been in touch with this round up of 2012 and wishes everyone a great 2013.

That’s it for this year, see you in couple days when we have that much anticipated website development.

Thanks for tuning in all and please spread the word about the all new boardseeker.com.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Good morning all and a we wish you a Happy New Year from all the team at Boardseeker. Obviously like most we will be taking the day off tomorrow but do not fear as we will be back with a fresh new approach in 2013. Individual news posts will fill up our home page, which will give you more to choose from and quicker access to it. For today we will sign out with our last lengthy post with plenty of video action.

It appears our call for videos last week created a spur of interest as we received a handful of clips. Opening up is probably the first of many that will come out of Jericoacoara this year, featuring Norwegian rising star Oda Johanne, certainly one to watch out for as she continues on her training mission around the world.

Now the AWT – American Windsurfing Tour is growing from strength to strength and their 2013 calendar is already set, what’s more they are currently offering a huge saving if you pay up in advance for your AWT Pass to enter all the events next year. Find out more by clicking on the image below.

Our next video shows us some more freestyle action, this time from Jacob Lindqvist. Spotted on the shores of Club Vass this summer, we can no doubt expect to see him again in the future. The dates for the 2013 PWA tour are not yet released but we are sure we will see Jacob either there or on the EFPT.

Chile appears to be going off lately, top names heading there like no tomorrow. The latest clip to drop includes Ricardo Campello and Robby Swift tearing up the waves down there.

We wrap up the morning with this quality one from Brazil. Not massively windsurfing heavy but it fills you with complete stoke about windsurfing whether you are just getting in to the sport or a full time pro. In addition to that, the whole thing is shot on the GoPro Hero 3, pretty impressive!

Photos by: Jimmie Hepp

Last time Boardseeker caught up with the flying doctor she was enjoying the long waves of south america, but where is she now?

Aloooooooooha from the beautiful land of Mahi Mahi, Mai Tais and bomby shallow reef breaks! Yes compadres, I’ve ventured across the Americas to the depths of the pacific to the wee paradise isle of Maui, Hawaii. To be honest, having been here many times already the sense of adventure was slightly lessened compared to my last two trips to Peru and Mexico. The 50th state of America is almost like a second home at this stage and knowing what’s in store for me here comes almost as a relief in comparisson to the daunting unknown of my escapades in Central and South America. Maui is a unique place. As hospitable and welcoming as it can be, it can also come with equal measures of hostility and difficulty. It is after all an island, and island cultures and people tend to be extemely unique and slightly insular……. I should know, after all I come from one.

Cultural pride and heritage mean everything to island people and there are few if any other places I have ever been to where the people take as much pride in where they come from as they do here. Hawaiians are a proud people and rightfully so. They come from a tropical paradise, which is as rich environmentally as it is culturally and being here reminds me of how similarly, I take such pride in being from Ireland and being Irish. The more often I come here the more clarity and insight I gain on this place. Living on Maui’s Norh Shore as I have done for every visit I’ve made, I begin to appreciate more and more of what it has to offer considering it is such a diverse melting pot of cultures and societies. People come here from every corner of the world, from every possible demographic and every mix of backgrounds all in search of the same thing……. waves. Glorious, clean, heavy, punishing, beautiful, challenging, jaw-dropping waves. It honestly never gets old taking a look at the mottly crew who make up a line up. Whether surfing, windsurfing, SUPping or kiting, the stories you hear and the faces you meet rarely tell the same story. Everyone came here in their own way, from their own background and in their own time but all for the one common cause. The sea. Nature’s playground.

And so I suppose I have my own story to tell and reasons for being here…….. naturally working on my pasty Irish freckly tan is one……. eating my bodyweight in fresh Ahi Poki doused in wasabi and soy is another…….. of course my life-long dream of donning a coconut bra and grass skirt and taking to life as a professional hula girl is up there too…… but mostly so I can find someone who’s willing to take me for dinner to Mama’s Fishouse already!! What I wouldn’t do for a $50 plate of Mahi and a $20 cocktail….. hahahahaha!!! Oh yeah, and I suppose I wouldn’t be too averse to the idea of doing a bit of windsurfing here and there…… if I have to…….

The sailing here has been epic, as always! There really is no need for me to go into the ins and outs of sailing Ho’okipa, you’ve heard it and seen it all before, so naturally you all know how incredible it can be. I first sailed Ho’okipa four years ago and coming back, having been limited since then to the waves of Ireland and Europe I was interested to see how all my ‘training’ would pay off here…… hahahaha holy crap Ho’okipa can beat me up! It’s all about going for it here, the wave can often times be a one or two hit wonder and unless you’re willing to ‘send it’ and boost a big aerial you can come away after a day’s sailing there with your tail between your legs , a rosy colour to your cheeks and some rock-mangled gear that looks like it spent some time in the ring with Tyson.

Ho’okipa sailing is Ho’okipa sailing. It’s a unique wave that takes years to fully tune in to and can be as punishing as it can be rewarding. A month into my stay here and I’m starting to tune into it…..I think…..and now at least I know what I want for Christmas….. “Dear Santa, I would greatly appreciate the magic skill of boosting a big aerial off the lip just like Mr.Polakow or Mr.Siver thank you please……… And if not, I suppose a voucher for Mama’s Fishouse wouldn’t go astray instead, ta very much”. Hahaha stop thinking about food Katie, focus on sailing.

So mixed into my personal battles with Ho’okipa (currently pretty good odds on Katie vs the Point with the wave coming in victor at about 200:1 ) hahaha!, I have been competing on the awesome American Windsurfing Tour. The Maui Makani Classic was the last stop on the six event tour for 2012 and was without a doubt, the best sailing I have seen in person in my life (and I’ve seen Koester in 50 knots Cabezo). I also feel it’s probably the best I have sailed on the tour too. I took the unique angle at this event of being media director which involved everything from writing daily press-releases to making videos and interviewing the competitors and dealing with the local press. Super fun considering my love of “the chat”, oh how I love “the chat”! Ha! But slightly challenging considering my only skills for the job on my CV include, 1) Loving the chat 2) Talking a lot 3) Loving the chat……. and 4) Being a doctor?! Hmmmmmm…. not quite media mogul credentials, pretty sure CNN won’t be banging down my door any time soon, but I did gain mad skills in using more than two fingers at a time to type and trying to sound a little less leprachaun and a little more uncle Sam…… got a real nice American twang going on right now, really helps break down the Paddy communication barriers over here!

The event was an insane success. 120 competitors from 24 countries (including two from Ireland, yours truly and 3rd place amateur fleet Neil Turpin from Dublin!) and a who’s who in the line up of the pro fleet. Watching heats with Stone vs Goya vs Siver vs Polakow vs Pritchard vs Katchadourian et al was mind blowing. I have written thousands of words about the heats on the AWT website so I won’t bore you with them now but all I can say is mix those names in with double mast high Ho’okipa and the recipe delivers probably the most memorable and successful event in recent times. From the ladies point of view we had a mackin’ fleet. Names like Junko Nagoshi, Anne-Marie Reichmann, Shawna Cropas, Tatiana Howard, Angela Cochran, Ingrid Larouche and so many more were all battling it out. I felt honoured and so unbelievably priviliged to be sailing both with and against those girls. Having 20 minutes of mast high Ho’okipa to yourself and three other women is absolutely priceless and I’ll never forget it. So proud to be representing Ireland at these events and really, really chuffed to have made it through to come 7th against 20 women for this event and 5th overall for the AWT year. My first heat was a toughy but I pulled through only to be pitted against last year’s winner and superstar Junko Nagoshi and last year’s runner-up Anne-Marie in my quarter finals. But I went into the heat with the only expectation of doing myself proud and having fun….. which I did! And caught some nice big bomby sets along the way and only narrowly lost on a 2:1 judges decision to Anne-Marie. Happy days! The win in the mens was taken by super nice, intelligent and talented 16 year old Bernd Roediger

And so from there it’s been a mix of sailing, SUPing, surfing, eating, partying and hanging out with some of the coolest people I know who I now consider very dear friends. I love the complete dichotomy in my life between Ireland and being a doctor and travelling and being a windsurfer. I’m so lucky to have the family and friends at home and away who all enrich my life so much regardless of what capacity it is in. Whether it’s my Mum, Dad, siblings and friends at home or my windsurfing family here on Maui and my sponsors in the Simmer team and Moo Custom team, I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such kindness, openess, happiness and support. Mahalo to you all!!

Previous adventures with katie and link to maui travel feature:

• Maui travel feature
• Katie in Peru
• Tenerife to South America

Our New Generation series focuses on up and coming windsurfing talent from around the World, and it simply wouldn’t be complete without this lady. Fiona Wylde is making a name for herself as one of the most naturally talented young windsurfers around, and we are sure she is destined for big things.

Fiona Wylde

Name: Fiona Wylde
Date of birth:2/18/1997
Born in: Port Townsend Washington
Currently living in: Hood River Oregon and Los Barriles Baja, Mexico
Years windsurfing: Roughly 11
Years competing: Six. I did my first Gorge Cup Race when I was 11.
Favourite discipline: Slalom and Waves for sure!
Latest move you learnt: Hitting the lip of a wave and landing a solid aerial! So much fun!
What you are learning now: Forward and back loops, and of course always improving my slalom sailing.
Sponsors: Sailworks, Big Winds, O’Neill, DaKine, Gorge Dental, Nolimitz, Quatro, and Vector Fins Maui.

How Did You Get Into Windsurfing

I began windsurfing on the nose of my Dad’s board. There was a line that I could hang onto, so I wouldn’t fly off, but all I wanted to do was go fast, jump high and have fun!

From there my Dad and Mom started teaching me how to sail on my own rig, but I still enjoyed sailing with my Dad until I was about six. After a couple years of just cruising around on light wind days, I started sailing more often and trying new things. By the age of nine I was hooked, and I made a huge decision at that time in my life to stop competing in gymnastics, which I had been doing since I was three, so I could have more time on the water. From that point on, I have been sailing as much as possible and having a blast with it!

Have You Made It To Any Competitions

I love competitions and I always have. I used to play soccer, run cross country, and participate in gymnastics, so starting to compete in windsurfing was something I was interested in. My Dad, MacRae Wylde, had been competing in the Gorge Cup Race Series based out of Hood River for a couple years when I decided I wanted to try a race.

My first year racing they ran an event called Gorge Slalom, where you had to finish a three buoy downwind slalom course, then sail back upwind to a buoy, then complete a second lap. I remember it being so windy that I was overpowered on my Sailworks Ripper 2.5 and my Starboard Starsurfer. The race was a eye-opener for sure, as I got lapped. But I was eager to keep sailing and finish the race, which I did. That was my only race that summer.

The following winter there was a race in La Ventanan Baja called the La Ventana Classic, that included a twelve mile bay crossing from the island of Ceralvo back to the mainland. The race was really exciting, and after some rigging error to begin with I managed to get to the start line on time. It was a really neat experience for me to be sailing out in the bay with nobody else around. By the time I got to the beach, I found out I was the first woman windsurfer to finish! I was so stoked, and from that race on I have continued to compete and have fun at every competition!

What Are Your Long Term Aims In Windsurfing

As of right now, I want to have the most fun possible with the sport. Fun is the number one priority! I really would like to improve my Slalom and Wave sailing skills, so I could possibly look at more competitions and events down the line.

Where Is Your Favourite Place To Windsurf

Ooh, that’s a tough one! I love to windsurf anywhere it’s windy! Slalom sailing in the Gorge and in Los Barriles can’t get much better, but wave sailing at Ho’okipa is incredible!

What Is Your Local Spot And Why Do You Like It

In the spring and summer months I sail all over the Gorge. Slalom sailing at the event site, bump ‘n’ jump at the Hatchery or at Dougs, or wherever it looks windiest!

In the winter months, I sail in Los Barriles Baja. I love sailing in Baja because you get to sail in big smooth rolling swell with steady winds.

In the Gorge it’s epically windy and you can boost some huge air which is always fun. I think one thing that is really neat about the Gorge is that there are so many different places and types of windsurfing that can be done.

If You Could Go Windsurfing Anywhere, Where Would It Be?

After watching the videos from the AWT event in Pacasmayo, Peru, and reading the reviews, I think I would love to go there to learn how to sail lefts. I have never wave sailed on Starboard tack and I would love to learn!

Check out the rest of the New Generation series:

• Dan Couchman
• Bernd Roediger
• Kimo Brown